Chapter 270: She’ll Cover for Me When Drinking
In Linzhou, at Fusa Pavilion.
The entire hall of Fusa Pavilion was decorated festively, with lights and flowers, transformed into a grand banquet scene.
“Come, let’s toast to Young Master Sang and the brothers from the Demon Cultivators for their successful return! Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
During the banquet, everyone, including the leader of Fusa Pavilion and many of the Floating Splendor Commerce heads, was present, all wearing cheerful smiles.
It was obvious that the enormous Holy Kingdom looming over them had suffocated every member of the Floating Splendor Commerce recently.
Now that they finally had a moment to breathe, they had to celebrate properly!
As drinks were passed around, Hua Jianglian was in high spirits, picking up a jug of wine and, amid the cheers, tilting her head back to drink it all in one go.
Beside her, Sang Zhe looked as if he were about to say something, but held back.
“Um, Sect Leader, shouldn’t we drink a bit less—”
“Ah~ Refreshing!”
Hua Jianglian stood up, foot on the table, and tipped the empty jug upside down to show she had left not a drop.
“Great! Sect Leader has remarkable drinking skills!”
“Hehe… not bad, right?”
Seeing Hua Jianglian’s cute face blushing and her eyes glazed over from the drink, Sang Zhe could only let out a resigned sigh.
His sect leader had the childish temper that couldn’t handle a little goading, and once she started drinking, there was no telling where it would end.
Eventually, he’d be the one left to deal with the mess!
“Sang, Sang Zhe.”
Hua Jianglian suddenly turned her head, hiccupping, and playfully poked his cheek: “Look at me, am I not impressive… hic, I didn’t even use my powers to force the wine out…”
Why are you so proud of that! There’s no need to be this honest at a time like this!
Sang Zhe sighed deeply again, picking her up like a caregiver and wrapping her in his arms, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat sticking her hair to her face and forehead.
“Seriously, you’re a sect leader; at least maintain a bit of an image in front of others. If you get completely drunk and make a scene, it’d be quite the embarrassment if I can’t control you.”
“Hehe. No way.”
With her drunken, dreamy eyes leaning against Sang Zhe’s chest, she suddenly chuckled softly.
“I know you’ll definitely be able to hold me.”
“…Only you can hold me.”
Sang Zhe pouted, continuing to gently wipe her sweat away.
Hua Jianglian was already slightly tipsy, swaying even as she sat in Sang Zhe’s embrace, obediently letting him take care of her.
And this warm scene was witnessed by Gongzi Shuiming, sitting beside Sang Zhe.
She merely cast a sideways glance before withdrawing her gaze and silently took a small sip from her wine glass.
…
After several rounds of drinks.
“Young Master Sang.”
During a segment where individuals toasted one another, the leader of Fusa Pavilion stood up with a glass: “Thanks to Young Master Sang’s efforts, we successfully delivered the goods and escape from the encirclement of the Holy Kingdom.”
“Let me toast to you.”
“Ah… alright.”
Since he was commanding the transport team, Sang Zhe had already been toasted several times since the banquet began. In such a public setting, he felt embarrassed to use his powers, so he had no choice but to drink up.
After several rounds, he was feeling a bit dizzy and hot all over.
Now, with another person to toast, he could only helplessly get up to toast back, but before he even spoke, a gentle voice suddenly rang out beside him:
“Since Young Master Sang just returned from a long journey, let me drink this cup on his behalf.”
Sang Zhe was a bit surprised.
The speaker was Gongzi Shuiming.
Today she was still dressed in her intellectual yet sexy outfit. With her delicate makeup, red lips, alluring black stockings, and a white shirt that barely contained her curves, she looked captivating.
Especially that pair of clear yet seductive golden-rimmed glasses, adding extra charm to her.
The leader of Fusa Pavilion was also surprised for a moment but laughed and said, “Haha, with a beauty to protect him, I’m just making a fool of myself; I’ll drink a cup myself.”
After finishing, he no longer disturbed Sang Zhe.
Gongzi Shuiming calmly finished her drink, turned to wink at Sang Zhe.
“Young Master Sang, is there something on my face?”
“No…” Sang Zhe hesitated: “I just didn’t expect you to cover for me when drinking.”
“Why? Do you think of me as such a cold-hearted woman?”
Indeed. He thought this but didn’t say it out loud.
In his memory, Gongzi Shuiming was still that subordinate sent by Bai Ming to monitor him. She was sharp, clever, meticulous, and quite deep in scheming.
Had he not found her little secret, Sang Zhe wouldn’t have liked spending too much time with someone like her.
Too exhausting. Always needing to be on guard.
Gongzi Shuiming gave a charming smile, her red lips blooming like a flower.
“I know you don’t particularly like me. Yet here I am, thanking you for allowing me to stay by your side and work with you.”
“Ahem. That’s too much. Who wouldn’t enjoy working alongside a beauty like Miss Shuiming?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Sang Zhe felt someone tug at his sleeve beside him.
Hua Jianglian had already drunkenly leaned against him, barely awake and struggling to open her eyes.
Yet her little hand seemed to subconsciously grip Sang Zhe’s sleeve tightly.
…She’s already this drunk and is still jealous. Sang Zhe couldn’t help but chuckle.
Gongzi Shuiming noticed this detail and smiled: “Young Master Sang and Sect Leader have such a good relationship.”
“Ah… cough, cough, well, it’s just a leader-subordinate relationship.”
“Just that?” Gongzi Shuiming said, her beautiful eyes twinkling mischievously.
“Uh.”
Sang Zhe suddenly felt embarrassed, scratching his head.
Gongzi Shuiming didn’t press further but carefully masked the fleeting sadness in her eyes and suddenly spoke: “Once the banquet is over, I wonder if Young Master Sang could spare some time… for a private chat?”
“I… have something to say to you.”
Sang Zhe blinked.
Oh.
Finally can’t take it anymore?
Looks like the intense pressure of recent days is having an effect.
This woman probably can’t stand my daily grinding of two thousand words and is seeking a plea!
It seems no matter how beloved a passion becomes, when it turns into a forced labor, it morphs into a nightmare.
Hmm, it seems my training plan can move to the next step soon.
With a smile of knowing, Sang Zhe replied slowly: “Of course.”
“Is there any reason to refuse a beautiful woman’s invitation?”
Once I’ve trained Shuiming, completing Nian Nian’s task won’t be far behind.
This time against the Holy Kingdom, I’ve invested quite a bit of points. I need to make a good profit to bounce back.
Thinking of this, Sang Zhe couldn’t wait to end the banquet quickly.
“Um…” Suddenly, a soft whimper came from beside him.
Sang Zhe turned to see Hua Jianglian asleep, leaning against him, and silently sighed.
Well, first I have to get this little troublemaker back home.
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